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persons by their investigative role has been demonstrated to create cognitive bias in the

investigation and laboratory examination. Look for any indicators.
• Laboratory reports of all evidence received for examination, all examinations and findings, and all

excluded from examination.
o As the law enforcement and medical examiner officers investigations proceed, evidence

examinations will be reported back. These should be separately reported as to when received, any
findings, and any case follow-up.

o Any evidence which has not been examined should be scrutinized as much as the evidence
examined and findings to determine any errors or neglected significance – and if any of these

items should be requested to be sent for examination by the defense. The CFDI may play a key
advisory role.

• Chain of Custody for all collected, submitted, and returned evidence.
o From the beginning of the official investigations to their conclusions, there should be clear,

sequential, and complete accounting from scene to evidence custodian to laboratory and
returned.

Disposition of Body and Personal Effects
From the scene if not autopsied, or from the morgue of autopsied, the body will be released to the next-

of-kin or designee for disposition – burial, cremation, donation, or transport. This information may be
important to the CFDI should they need to contact any funeral home or facility. This may include to have a

second body assessment, autopsy, toxicology or DNA specimens, photographs or other needs. Permission,
and likely a court order, will be needed. Funeral home personnel who prepared the body for disposition

may have made notice of anything unusual, and documented or reported the same. In some jurisdictions
of lay coroners, a funeral home director may also be the county coroner. Caution should be taken to know

the background of any personnel interviewed. Our agency has had families told a suicide was a homicide
with unfounded reasons, and funeral homes have reported suspicious deaths missed by the coroner or

releasing medical facility. Be very specific in contacting and interviewing this valuable resource.

Like the body, the personal effects from both law enforcement and medical examiner are often released
directly to the next-of-kin, unless retained as evidence. These personal effects, like evidence, should be

clearly documented in the manner collected and released. Valuable information – or missing information –
may be determined from the personal effects.

Summary and Case Disposition

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